While the Geelong Cats may be fifth on the AFL ladder, their hometown of Geelong is ranked as the top region in Australia for people moving away from capital cities. Geelong has overtaken Queensland’s Sunshine Coast as the most popular destination for those seeking to escape city life, offering a picturesque coastline and a thriving industry perfect for a sea-change. The Greater Geelong area is even home to more than 282,000 people, making it the largest regional council area in Australia.
The recent trend of Australians moving to regional and rural areas has been attributed to the COVID-19 lockdowns, but this shift towards country living is only expected to continue as more people become attracted to the idea of a tree- or sea-change. In fact, the rate of people moving to regional areas has increased by more than 10% in the March quarter alone, with the majority of these moving from Sydney and Melbourne.
While Geelong may be experiencing some growing pains, such as a housing shortage and ageing infrastructure, the draft five-year plan from the council aims to manage this expansion successfully. Other areas experiencing rapid growth include Maitland in the Hunter Valley and the Sunshine Coast, with Maitland expected to exceed 100,000 people by the end of 2026. The nation’s regional population currently sits at 9.91 million and is expected to increase in the near future.
Liz Ritchie, the Chief Executive of the Regional Australia Institute, believes that there are significant economic gains to be made by supporting and nurturing growth in regional areas. This can only be achieved by providing communities with the infrastructure, facilities, funding, and support they need to continue to welcome new residents.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/28/geelong-overtakes-sunshine-coast-regional-migration-movers-index
